That's where it all started. My Dad, Leslie, met Don in 1939 when they had signed up for the Navy and they soon became firm friends. So much so that when they both married they were each others Best Man. Dorothy and my mum Betty, had a lot in common with sewing and homemaking and therefore the friendship lasted a lifetime. We visited them over the years in Stockport and they in turn came to us in Slaithwaite. Visits to Stockport were quite something! I can remember Auntie Dorothy with her sewing machine inside a playpen while Kay and Joy  had the rest of the room to play ! My mum always admired Dorothy's skills as a seamstress and wore with pride all the beautiful handsewn presents she sent . I can remember knitted cardigans, jumpers, a worsted  winter coat that was beautifully lined with grey satin and most of all the leather patchwork handbags. I kept one of those bags when my mum passed away and still have it today.It is made up of turquoise  and black squares with a tortoiseshell  handle. My mum loved the bag as it was quite different to anything that anyone else had. She even bought  matching gloves to complete her outfit and of course kept them inside the bag, because that's what you did in those days. The bag symbolises the patience , care, skill and creativity that Dorothy had. She was such a clever lady in so many ways .

Susan Hynes( nee Sykes)  daughter of Leslie and Betty Sykes